Take your time when you're there and really check things out. Is there a current ABKA (American Boarding Kennel Association) membership plaque displayed somewhere? Does the facility appear pleasant and tidy? Keep in mind, though, that if you show up unannounced during cleaning time in the morning, things may be in a bit of disarray. If, however, you arrive in the afternoon and the cages and runs have yet to be cleaned, that's a bad sign. The facility should be properly ventilated and, if well sanitized, free of offensive odors. There should be no sign of animal feces or parasite infestation (fleas, ticks, flies). Be sure, too, to ask how frequently they clean.

Ask to see where your pet will sleep, play and be walked. The cages should appear to be of adequate size for the dogs and cats in them. They should also be free of sharp edges or exposed wire that could potentially catch a paw or collar, and the latches should seem sturdy. There should be solid dividers between each boarder, along with barriers between runs that are high enough to keep male dogs from urinating into adjacent runs, and surfaces should be able to provide good traction even when wet. Cats and dogs should be kept separately, with the cats as far away from the dogs as possible to minimize the stress of barking.

Back to the previous page on boarding facilities.
Continue reading about pet boarding facilities.